Johnny Appleseed Park
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Johnny Appleseed Park, including what was formerly known as Archer Park, is a public park in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is named after the popular-culture nickname of John Chapman, better known as "Johnny Appleseed," a famous American pioneer, who was buried on the site.
Chapman's gravesite is accessible to public view though steel gates. The weathered tomb stone says, "Johnny Appleseed He lived for others. 1774-1845." It also has a carved apple in bas relief.
The land of the park was donated to Allen County, Indiana by William T. McKay to serve as a memorial park for the community. It became part of the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department as the city grew and annexed the land. Johnny Appleseed Park serves as the home for Fort Wayne's annual Johnny Appleseed Festival.
The current park, as of 2005, includes a large campground nestled in rolling meadows and woods along the St. Joseph River. The extreme northwest corner of the park has been leased to the county for recreational development and includes the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum; a convention center; Memorial Statium, a baseball stadium; and a 40-acre parking lot.
